The precipitation should return Thursday. And in between, the flood conditions aren't going anywhere.

Rain will continue through the early part of this morning before slowing to a drizzle later this afternoon, WRCB-TV3 meteorologist Paul Barys said. But before the rain stops, water levels in streams and creeks will continue to rise, causing floods that can affect today's traffic routes and class schedules.

Meanwhile, some roads may be closed today because of flooding. On Tuesday, law enforcement officials and emergency responders ordered several roads to shut down, at least temporarily. That included Boy Scout Road, West 38th Street and Igou Ferry Road. And in Chattooga County, Ga., that included Lyerly Dam Road, which closed early in the afternoon and still had not opened as of Tuesday night.

Barys said the rain should be light by noon today, though clouds still will cover the sky. And on Thursday, more rain should arrive. If so, the area will mark the ninth straight day with rain.

"If you're looking at the whole kit and kaboodle, we're talking about 4 to 6 inches of rain," Barys said.

The National Weather Service's Morristown, Tenn., office announced that a flood watch in East Tennessee will remain in effect until noon today. The rain shouldn't be heavy, but its persistence will overwhelm already full bodies of water.

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On Tuesday evening, the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency declared a state of emergency because of rainfall in eastern Tennessee, as well as icy conditions in the central and western parts of the state. Barys said no ice should stretch into the eastern part of the state.

A flood watch in North Georgia also will remain in effect this morning, said Adam Baker, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service's Peachtree City, Ga., office. The chance of rain falls to 30 percent this afternoon and continues to decrease throughout the day. But early Thursday morning, Baker said, the rain should return to North Georgia. There is even an outside chance it could turn to snow, he said, and black ice could coat some roads.

Finally, though, the precipitation will take a break -- for real this time, Barys said. He doesn't expect any rain during the weekend, and the sun should creep out from behind the clouds on Friday and stay until early next week.